Freezing device



A. J. FREl, SR

FREEZING DEVICE.

Dec. 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 19, 1956 mveuraa ARTHUR J. muse.

Na? mv kw A J ATTORNEY A. J. FREI, SR

Dec. 2, 1958 FREEZING DEVICE S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1956 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. FREI, 5R.

W 7. 21M. HIS ATTOB/Vff A. .1. FREI, 5;;

Dec. 2, 1958 FREEZING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 19, 1956 b (Q INVENTOR. R J- mas/a H15 flfmim y Un e S t s Patent 4,862,370 7 FREEZING DEVICE Arthur J. Frei, Sr., Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to freezing devices of the tray and grid type and particularly to new and useful improvements in the grid structure thereof.

In the art to which this invention pertains it is old to provide a grid structure, removable as a unitfrom a tray of a freezing device, with a lever or force multiplying mechanism which initially applies a force to thettop of an end wall of the tray, to elevate the grid structure relative to the tray for breaking an ice bond between' walls of the tray and all ice blocks contained in the grid therein, and to then continue moving the lever or mechanism for moving walls of the grid with respect to one another to release ice blocks from the grid structures This.

method of releasing ice blocks from a freezing'device caused deformation of the tray end wall and quite frequently such deformation would be 'so great that the lever became ineffective to perform its designated initial function. Thereafter-a freezing device was designed wherein the initial movement-of a lever on the grid structure thereof acted initially and directly on the forwardmost transverse grid wall, instead of on a tray wall, and this together with-providing a tray, with a forward end, in the vicinity of the lever, inclined outwardly from the bottom toward the top ofthe tray would wedge ice blocks at the front of the freezing device against this inclined tray end to cam or pry the grid and ice blocks bonded thereto upwardly of and loose from the tray.-

Such a con'structioln overcame the problem "of deforming,-

the topof an-end wall of a tray but has presented other difficulties. For example force initially applied to the forwardmost end grill wall, to break a bond between the tray and all icefblockstherein,"is sogreat that the inter lock between this 'forwardmostl grid wall and an actuating member employed to thereaftermove'other of the trans: verse grid walls, particularly in relatively wide freezing devices," would be damaged or broken necessitating replacement 'of the gridlstructur'e. 'I have"found that an interlocking connection of a transverse grid'wall'directly contacted and moved by a'camrning surface of a lever on the grid should "preferably be made between such transverse wall and two horizontally disposed actuating members, and that both connections must be": structurally reinforced to withstand the reactiv'e' fo'rce of the lever applied to; thiswall if a: grid structure in an ice tray is to: be eXpeetd to remain infallible in operation for any-reasonable period of time 'An'obje'ct of-my' invention is to overcome ,certain difficulties in" theproduction ofa grid, for use in'an ice tray and to provide a durable, easily operated ice tray and" grid :st'rueturefeifective," for conventionally releasingice,blocksfrom thetray and forl releasing'ice Anothei' object-of myivenmn is "to providean gr'idml'aitilted in response. to" movement-bf this 7 one end a 2,862,370 Fa tent ed Dec, 2, 1958 v t .7 5 2 wall toward the vertical for releasing all ice blocks from the trayand grid. t

A further objectof my invention .is to provide a plurality of different freezing devices for use in conjunction with a household refrigerator cabinet all of which devices employ identical trays with unlike grid structures therein interchangeable from [one to a another of the identical trays to meet various demands or desires of a housewife. a I

A stillfurtherobject of rny invention is to provide a unitarily removable grid structure for an ice tray wherein a reactive means or member absorbs force applied directly to one transverse wall of the grid by movement of a-lever and transmits this forceto -a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced apart actuating members simultaneously movable in the same direction to progressively tilt inclined transverse grid walls in succession from one end to the other of the grid towardthe vertical whereby the force is divided and appliedtothe transverse grid walls at spaced apart points therealong, irrespective of whether or not the grid includes one or a number of longitudinal partitions, for preventing" an interlocked connection between parts of the grid from being damaged or broken. In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a more specific object of my invention to structurally reinforce a grid for use in ice trays at the critical or most diificult ice bond breaking point in such a manner that substantially inflexible metal walls of the grid can be made from thinner gauge material and parts thereof may be easily and quickly assembled which together enables manufacturing costs of a grid and tray -freezing{device to be substantially reduced. T p a I r Further-objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the -following description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown. 4 In the drawings: I 1 v I 1 Figure 1 is a side view of a tray and grid type freezing device having'my improvements incorporated therein;

- Figure 2 is a broken top plan view of the device'shown in Figure 1 wherein the grid thereof 'includes'a single I Of the grid; 1

Figure 6 is a broken top plan view similar to Figure 2 of a'modified form of freezing device having my mvention incorporated therein;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken onthe line 7-7 of Figure 6 showing a lever pivotally mounted on two longitudinal partitioning walls of the grid structure of the modified device; f 5

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the modified freezingdevice taken on the line 88 ofFigure 6;

Figure 9 is abroken top plan view similar to Figures '2 and 6 of a still' further modified form of freezing device having myinvention incorporated; therein; t

Figure 10 is a fragmentarysectional view'taken on the line Ill-10 of Figure 9 showing a'lever pivotally mounton the grid structure; and

Figure '11 isa sectional view throughthe freezing device shown in Figure 9 and is taken onthe 1ine=:1 1 *1 -1 thereof. a, I A 1.

Referring to the drawings,for illustrating my inyen tio'n,

; Fshbwinfigu're '1 thereof a freezing device comprising atrey having un y g d structure ..1:emvab1y. dis posed therein. The tray is stamped from sheet metal and is generally represented by the reference numeral 2.0-... Tray .20.. ncl q sa o wall. and. pposed .upright side and end walls. The tray side andend walls diverge outwardly f1 o m their bottoms to .their'tops and have theiriupperedge;rolledor bent over to provide, a rima qu het p otthe tray.- ne end of, trayltl has a metalpiece 21 welded thereto (see Eigure 3) 'and this metal, piece pivotallysupports a cam handle; 22 whichmay be oLany suitable or conventional construction as is well known in the art.- The cam handle '22 s tres te reals af cs o i e b nd. between .tray' ZO and arfree i fes pnqrt up n.,w ch the yv may; be. supported whilefreezjng water. therein. .The. freezing deijicealso. comprises 'a .unitary grid structure removably disposed-therein for; dividing, the interior thereof into rbwsof opemtop ice, blo ck, forming cells or comparts, The g r id structure; within tray. 20,! includes, a

r g d or -infl exible metal longitudinal partitioningw wall 23, (see Figures, 2 3,- 4 and having a plurality of spaeed. .,ap'art;no t ches .24 cut or formed in its bottom edge (see Rigures 3 and 5). A plurality of separate Ii vfnl'lezdbl ,rnetal transverse walls 26, the one 27 which may bethrcker than the others, are assembled to thedongitudinal wall 2 3 for tilting movement relative thereto ,These transverse walls 26 and 2,7 are each prov ded witli a vertically elongated closed walledkeyhole sliaped opening 28 through which the longitudinal Wa l 2.3.,.. .nd e Fig re The S Penin 28 walls 26 is of slightlyjgreater height than the height of longitudinal wall 23 so as topermit the longitudinal Wall 2 3 ..to be extended through the transversewalls during assemb yn n a e-th eon W en. the. walls; 26. and, 27 come into alignment with the notches, 24 longitudinal wall-gj is lowered to position. a continuous or web; portion .-;29 on the transverse walls, below the opening 28 (s l-" gure f5), in;rhe notches 24.; ,Longitudinal. wall 23 s also provided with ispacedapart laterally bent niches or ears 31 serving as stops for the transverse 'Walls'26 to normally hold them in an acute angledor inclined p t pn wi h respect q. he. vertical (se Figures Q 5 n rma an leiinclinari n of .wal lsl26land -27 permits the iceblock compartrnentsrtobe enlarged when lhgttr t ystsew l s. a e m0v d..t w'ar or intoza sub= stantially vertical position as isyngwwell known'to jtlmSe sk 'rlled in the, art. The inclined transverse ."grid walls 26 and27 areIpr vided withlhori'zontally. elongated spaced apart close'd1walledopenings 33..(.see .Figure 5)' each'of whiehrs srves a web p r i n. adja t a p n' sldt 3 in flat horizontally disposedsp'acedapartlactnatingbars err-members- .6...-S1o1s. 3.4 in .lbars. or...members 36 '"are longitudinally spaced apart and are? progressively wider relative t o, .one another frorn'jthe' front to the rear "end of the grid structure. After the bars or members 36 are passed through. the openings. 33 in the transverse grid-walls 26 ;an d 27 with the slot s..34..registe'ring therewith thse members are movedljaterzilly relative to one another to assemble them to the grid structure. A stamped. sheet metallever 4 0 haslegs 41 spaced from 3W1. s add in bn itu inal Wall. .23.. :pivotally. secured thereto in back of the one forward transverse wall 27, by astud or rivetAZ (see;Figures,.3 andf4).. Suitable spac g bushings ,43. .sHIIQund. the stud: or'rivet. .42 on eachgs de of wall 23 for. holding ihelever .40 contraliied t nant to t e. isgleiongimdinai :grid ,wall'. Lever 40 is formed tojprovid a.. .all l surface/14.4 th'ereon which normally abuts, and is adapted to, directly T engage the forward, transverse grid .wall.l27; for a.'purpose to be hereinafter described. Lever 4,0;is ;p rovided'..vvith a cut PP .P9F Q ll :4 ee. Figlltfis..2;andi3).for clearing {h longitudinalwall fi whentheijleverjis' swungupwa'rdly about its pivotal mounting. After the lever 40 has been t ql atsiz mn there-r d a means for tying the ends of bars 36 t0 one another is secured to the grid. This means comprises a. first metal link element 46 secured to the rear ends of bars 36 by rivets 47 and a second flat horizontally disposed metal link element 48 secured to the front ends of bars 36 by rivets 49. The link 4-6 is, preferably and especially in the form of my grid disclosed in Figures 1 to 5, bent downwardly (see Figures 2 and 5) so as to prevent rising of wall 23 in the openings 28 of Walls 26 and disassembly therefrom. Link 46 could, if desired, on the other hand be flat and riveted to the underside of actuating bars 36, This feature is not required in the modified 'grid'structur'es herein disclosed and hereinafter described but may be incorporated in the grid shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 should the central wall thereof tend to become disassembled during relative movement of the grid walls. It is to be noted that the tying link 48 is thicker than link 46 and normally abuts the front surface of transverse wall 27 to thereby absorb the. reactive force of cam surface 44 on lever 40'when the 'lever is operated. The arrangement of link element 48 as described serves to prevent the initial. movement of lever 40, which is. the most ditficult bond breaking. portion of operation of the lever, from damaging or breaking interlocked connections between partsiof the unitary grid structure.

After water has been frozen in the freezing device shown in Figure 1 into ice blocks in the ice block forming compartments thereof, bythe device'being subjected tothe low temperature Within a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet, and it is desired to harvest the ice blocks from the device it is removed from the refrigerator and plaeed on a flat top support at the kitchen sink or elsewhere as desired. The handle end of lever'40 is now manipulated or raised to cause 'the cain surface 44 to directly', engagean'd bear against the 'side' ofithe transvers wall 27 and tilt s'ame forwardly or toward'ithe vertical with a very highmechanical advantage. AsleVer' 40 "is cofntinuedto .be swung upward the brunt of its;reactive force applied to the frontwalls 27 is taken up or absorbed by thelink ,tyingmeans 48 and this forcefis transmitted eyerilyandsimultaneous'ly to the actuatingbars 36.; This force, instead of being transmittedto bars 36'solcly by one edge of the slots 34, is conjointly transmitted to the actuating bars 36 through rivets 49 andjan edge of, slots 34 so as;to'protect the interlock of wall; 27 with thebars 3 .81 PIQYQnLdamage thereof. The initial tilting of transverse wall 27 earns the two-ice blocks at theforward end of the freezing device upwardlyalong the inclined frontend ofltray 20 1 to loosen them from the tray and grid angl this camrniug action also elevates the grid upwardly oftray; 2 (l'andloosens all-other ice blocks therefrom, ,In a trayjand grid freezing device ofthe character herein dis closedithis initial movement of wall "27 is the most diflicult of all other movements of elements ofthe grid 'i'structure and-requires the; greatest amount of force. In accordance with the -objects of the invention my im- Proved grid stru cture is rendered rugged and ofjlong'life by providing means which reinforces the grid and absorbs the reactive force ofanoperatinglever at'the point and t? me he a e .f9 sfip i d to P r s of the s u ture l urther swinging of lever 40 about its pivotal monnting, after the grid and ice' has beenbroken'loose frorntray 20 causesthe' bars3619 be moved, in response to movement of wall 27, simultaneously in the same directieals huise 9 t ee tor os e s yr p' remai i ra ve se r d W l s and. t l em one f f l 9 sl qs mio ardthe v i al eb a allice blocksl'oose froin their compartment walls; This i!P. y.th slo 54in tsm i e sively wider than one another in a direction frointhe frontto the rear of the grid structure. This progressive tilting movement of these other'or remaining transverse yvalls- -2 6,does notrequire the great forceneeded to" tilt the firstwall 27. -Due' to the transverse walls 26 and 27 being normally inclined with respect -'to*tlie' vcrtical'vgnd being :tilted' toward'or' into a' vertical positidrihlzirg'es'the tively'wide transverse grid walls-26 these walls, can be safely tilted or moved many times or over and over again without danger of damaging orlbreaking an,v interlocking connection thereof with the actuating bar members 36.

This is a prescribed requisite peculiar in grids particularly of different construction and all of which are interchangeable with one another in a given size trayrofa freezing device or devices of V the character herein disclosed. Movements of lever 40 to first tilt cross wall 27 for loosening the two forward ice blocks and all other ice blocks from the tray and for thereafter releasing all of the ice blocks from the grid structure is not illustrated in the drawings but should be obvious to one skilled in the art and to others by reference to prior patented devices of this general nature and particularly to the more detailed description contained in my Patent No. 2,642,726 dated June 23, 1953, entitled Freezing Tray. I

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I show my invention incorporated in a first modified form of freezing device and in which parts of the grid similar or common to those in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings are indicated by like numerals multiplied by one hundred. In this first modified freezing device a unitary grid structure is removably disposed in the tray and the grid comprises two horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls 123 which diverge. outwardly away from one another at their lower portion so as to permit ice blocks releasedfrom the grid walls to freely fall out of the bottom of the grid. In accordance with my invention this grid is provided with the reactive force absorbing link element 148 and the lever 140 thereon has legs 141 each pivotally secured by a rivet or the like 142 to one of the spaced apart opposed upright longitudinal walls 123 (see Figure 7). The two longitudinal partitioning walls of the grid in this modified freezing device divide the interior of tray 20 into three rows' of ice block forming compartments. 7. The lever secured to this modified grid is devoid of a central cut out portion orslot longitudinal partitioning walls in this second modification divide the interior of tray 20 into four rows of ice block forming compartments. Lever 240 secured to this modified grid structure is provided with the cut out portion 245, similar to the cut out portion of lever 40, so that the web part of level-1240 intermediate its legs 241 will clear the central longitudinal grid wall when the lever is operated to release ice blocks from the freezing device.

The manner of. operating or tilting the transverse walls in this second modified grid structure is substantially the same as that described with respect to the showing in Figures 1 m5 inclusive of the drawings. It is to be understood that the tray 20 in all of the illustrated showings of my invention are identical and are of equal size. Thus the grid in this second modified illustration and the grids in the other two freezing devices herein disclosed are interchageable with one another in a tray 20. In this manner a designated number of trays to be supplied with a household refrigerator cabinet can be provided with different types of grid structures to meet various customer demands.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that my improvement of providing means for absorbing the reactive force of a camming lever on a grid structure can be applied to a wide variety or types of grids for disposition infreezing trays. The combined force reactive absorbing link and actuating bar tying means of the present invention permits of a substantially standardization in grid constructions for ice trays of freezing devices although the grids may include a different number of longitudinal walls for dividing the interior of such trays into various numbers of rows of ice block forming compartments. My method of structurally reinforcing a grid and of absorbing the reactive force of a camming lever applied directly against a partitioning wall thereof prevents deformation'of this wall and damage to or breaking of the interlocking connections thereof with other walls or members of the grid structure. The reinforcement of a grid structure as herein disclosed at the critical or most I rendersthe grid rugged and of long life.

since there is no center wall which the lever must clear.

The mode of operating or tilting the transverse walls in this first modified illustration of the invention is substantially the same as that described with respect to the showing in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings. It is to be understood that the grid in this modified freezing device and the grid in the device shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive are interchangeable with one another in the tray 20. Thus a housewife having one of each of the grids so far described may substitute one for the other in a tray 20 to produce larger and fewer ice blocks at one time or smaller and a greater quantity of ice blocks at another time. This provides for the selective freezing and harvesting of different size ice blocks as desired.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11 I show my invention incorporated in a second modified form of freezing device. In this second modified device parts of the grid common or similar to grids shown in Figures 1 to 8 are indicated by like numerals multiplied by two hundred. A unitary grid structure is removably disposed in the tray 20 and the grid of this second modified showing comprises three horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls 223. The

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A freezing device comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary grid structure in said tray dividing the interior thereof into ice block compartments and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure including a one piece longitudinal partition and a plurality of spaced apart substantially inflexible walls movably secured to said one piece partition and extending transversely thereacross, said transverse walls being normally inclined with respect to the yertical and having two separate spaced apart horizontally elongated closed walled openings therein adjacent the top thereof, a flat horizontally extending actuating bar projecting through each of said separate closed walled openings and having a part thereof interlocked with said transverse walls, said bars extending continuously over the upper portion of said plurality of transverse walls, horizontally disposed fiat links secured to ends of said bars beyond and paralleling the endmost transverse walls for tying the two bars together against movement toward one another, a lever on said grid structure pivotally mounted uponvsaid one piece longitudinal partition adjacent an end transverse wall on the side thereof opposite the side traversed by one of said links, said lever having a cam thereon for directly contacting and tilting said end transverse wall toward the vertical, the location of said one link being such that the reactive force of said cam against said end transverse wall is absorbed thereby to prevent damaging of the interlock be tween said end transverse wall and the actuating bars during initial operation of said lever, and continued op eration of said lever causing force applied to=said end bly secured to said one .piece partitions and extending transversely thereacross to provide threerows of iceblock compartments, said transverse walls ibeing normally inclined with respect to the vertical and having two separate spaced apart. horizontally elongated closed walled openings therein adjacentrthe. top thereof, a flat horizontally extending actuating bar projecting through each of said separate closed walled openings and having a part thereof interlocked with said transverse walls, said bars extending continuously over the upper portion of said plurality ofv transverse walls, horizontally. disposed flat links secured to ends of said bars beyond and paralleling the endmost transverse walls for tying the two bars together against movement toward .one another. a lever on said grid structure having a pivotal mounting on each of said pair of one piece longitudinal partitions adjacent an end transverse wall on the side thereof opposite the side traversed by one of said link-s, said lever having a cam thereon for directly contacting and tilting said end transverse, wall toward the vertical, the location of said one link being such that the reactive force of said cam against said end transverse wall is absorbedathereby to prevent damaging of the interlock between said end transverse wall and the actuating bars during initial op.-

eration of said lever, and continued operation of said' lever causing force applied to said end transverse grid wall to be simultaneously transmitted to said :bars for moving them in-the same direction lengthwise of said grid structure to tilt all other of said plurality of inclined transverse walls toward said end; transverse wall into a substantially vertical position. 7

3. A freezing device comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary-grid-structure in said tray dividing the interior thereof into ice block compartments and-removable theretrom as-a unit, said grid structure incl-urding three spaced apart one piece longitudinal partitions and a plurality of spaced aparbsubstantially inflexible walls. movably secured to vsaid one piece partitions and extending transversely thereacrossto provide four rows of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being normally inclined with respect to the vertical and having two separate spaced apart horizontally elongated closed walled'opening s therein adjacent the top thereof, a fiat horizontally extending actuating bar projecting through each of said separate closed walled openings and having a part thereof interlocked with said transverse walls, said bars extending continuously over the upper portion of said plurality of transversewalls, horizontally dis-posed flatlinks secured to ends of said bar-s beyond and paralleling the endmost transverse walls for tying the two bars together against movement toward one another, a lever on said grid structure having a pivotal mounting on two outermost of said three one piece longitudinal partitions adjacent an end transverse wall on the side thereof Opposite the side traversed by one of said links, said lever straddling the. center one of said partitions and having a cam thereon for directly contacting and tilting said end transverse, Wall toward the vertical, the location of said one link being such that the reactive force of said cam against said end transverse wall is absorbed thereby to prevent damaging ofthe interlock between said end transverse wall and the actuating bars during initial, operation of said lever, and continued operation of said lever causing force applied to said end transverse ,grid wall to be simultaneously transmitted 'to said bars for moving them in the same direction lengthwise of said grid structure to tilt all other of said plurality ofinclined transverse walls toward said end transverse wall into a substantially'vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Frei June 23, 1953 

